Sean Dougherty

Mr. Dougherty completed his Master's in Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia School of Architecture in 2001. While at UVA, he also completed a design program in American Urbanism. Mr. Dougherty received a bachelor degree in communications at the Pennsylvania State University in 1994. While employed in media relations at the University of Georgia between 1994 and 1998, he completed many graduate level classes in landscape architecture and architectural history at the School of Environmental Design.

In 2001, after completing graduate work, Dougherty joined Ayers Saint Gross Architects and Planners where he was a member of the town planning studio which is located in Washington, DC. At Ayers Saint Gross, he produced highly detailed and wide-scoping infill revitalization masterplans for districts and neighborhoods in college towns such as South Bend, Indiana, Athens, Georgia, and Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Dougherty also created new urbanist masterplans for university-related research parks at institutions including the University of North Carolina, University of Texas, and Carnegie Mellon University (Palo Alto Campus).

In 2004, began as a senior planner with the County of Albemarle, Virginia in Charlottesville where he focused on urban design, traditional neighborhood development, growth management, and sustainability. Dougherty was involved in numerous zoning ordinance changes including the creation of standardized architectural and design guidelines for specific zoning districts. Mr. Dougherty participated in long-range masterplanning efforts and prepared proposed land-use changes for legislative review and public hearings. Dougherty gained grant funding to construct a 9,000 square-foot greenroof atop the Albemarle County office building. He also completed an update to the County of Albemarle comprehensive plan in support of green building and sustainability.

Dougherty joined Octagon Partners in 2007. He works on a variety of levels including conceptual architectural studies, site planning, historic designation and tax credit reconcilliation, local government process and approvals, and graphic design.

Mr. Dougherty serves on the County of Albemarle Historic Preservation Committee and chairs the Heritage Education and Financial Incentives subcommittee. He also serves on the Local Climate Action Planning Process Working Group. Dougherty is a member of the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) and has attended a number of CNU annual meetings.